Quote:
Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy
So the double action revolvers can still be shot single action by manually cocking the hammer?
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Just to clear up a bit of confusion over the proper nomenclature for various revolver action types:
"Single action" means there is only one way to cock and fire the revolver. The most common version of this is the old Colt Peacemaker or newer Ruger Blackhawk. With these, one must manually cock the hammer with the thumb before pulling the trigger. Simply pulling the trigger will not fire the gun.
The other single action (and this is where the confusion starts) is a
trigger cocking action, often (quite mistakenly) referred to as a "double action" trigger pull. Hammerless revolvers (those with bobbed or shrouded hammers) that cannot be cocked with the thumb are
single action, trigger cocking revolvers.
"Double action" means there are two ways to fire the gun - cock the hammer with your thumb before pulling the trigger, or utilizing the trigger cocking stroke of the trigger to pull the hammer back, cock the piece, and fire all in one long stroke. Two distinctly different ways to fire the same gun - "double action".
So, that out of the way, we see that modern "double action" revolvers will, in fact, fire both ways - a long pull of the trigger starting with the hammer down, or by cocking the hammer first. It is worth noting that the vast majority of shots fired with these find them being cocked first. Most folks don't use the trigger cocking mode very often. It may be an advantage in a "close encounter of the felonious kind", but it makes it very difficult to aim precisely at any sort of distance.
So, in practical terms, there isn't much difference in that regard between an old style single action Colt or Blackhawk and a newer double action Smith, Ruger, or whatever. The double action is quicker to load and unload due to its swing-out cylinder. Few of us will ever need that advantage, however.
Which leads me to my standing recommendation - try a modern single action. Ruger Blackhawks are as cheap as any modern revolver comes, absolutely indestructible, and as accurate as any of us can hold. They come in stainless or blued, with barrel lengths from 4 3/4" to 7 1/2", and in calibers from .32 to .357 Mag /.38 Special, .44 Special/Mag, and .45 Colt. You can get adjustable sights (Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk) or fixed sights (Vaquero), and two choices in grips - the standard Peacemaker style, or the larger "Bisley" style.
For a "fun gun" used at the range and in the gravel pit, they are pretty tough to beat. They are fantastic companions any time in the outdoors, and not a bad choice in the night stand, either.